Looming deadlines, demanding clients, boring projects, and even feelings of fatigue that may signal the beginnings of burnout any of these everyday afflictions can making it tough to dredge up the energy to be psyched about your work and be amazing at what you do. These feelings can disappear if we shift our perspective to gamify work. Let's look at how we can bring gamification theories and practices to our work to spur the process of enhancing productivity and innovation to produce easily, better, more, and get the epic win.
22. Work vs. Play
Source: [5]
Work
Game
Tasks
repetitive, dull
repetitive, fun
Feedback
once a year
constantly
Goals
contradictory, vague
clear
Path to Mastery
unclear
clear
Rules
unclear, intransparent
clear, transparent
Information
too much and not enough
right amount at the right time
Failure
forbidden, punished, don't talk about expected, encouraged, spectacular,
it
brag about it
Status of Users
hidden
transparent, timely
Promotion
kiss-up-o-gracy
meritocracy
Collaboration
yes
yes
Speed/Risk
low
high
Autonomy
mid to low
high
Narrative
only if you are lucky
yes
Obstacles
accidential
on purpose
23. Make work more like play!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/estevenson/2641282945/
30. Game Mechanics
Principles, rules, and/or mechanisms that
govern a behavior through a system of
incentives, feedback, and rewards with
reasonably predictable outcome.
31. Game Mechanics
Achievements
Appointments
Behavioral Momentum
Blissful Productivity
Bonuses
Cascading Information
Theory
Combos
Community Collaboration
Countdown
Discovery
Epic Meaning
Free Lunch
Infinite Gameplay
Levels
Loss Aversion
Lottery
Ownership
Points
Progression
Quests
Reward Schedules
Status
Urgent Optimism
Virality
32. Game Mechanics are building blocks
http://isodomos.com/technica/history/1940/1949.php
33. You can take these blocks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lego_Color_Bricks.jpg
34. And string them together
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michale/105825096/
35. To drive a complex sequence
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gennie_stafford/3462042833/
36. Gaming Dynamics
Temporal evolution and patterns of both
the game and the players that make the
game (or any gamified activity) more
enjoyable.
41. Figure out some new goals
http://www.flickr.com/photos/angietorres/4564765098/
42. Food for thought:
“In the absence of clearly defined goals,
people are forced to concentrate on
activity and ultimately become enslaved
by it.”
- Charles Coonradt, The Game of Work
43. Banish the Inner Critic
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mythoto/3822942678/
50. Eustress is good, mmkaay?
Eustress makes people feel focused and
optimistic, alert, determined, persistent,
and exhilarated.
Eustress further makes us more ambitious
and likely to succeed, try new things,
cooperate with others, and gives us a
sense of achievement.
51. Game Changer: Change the question
Instead of wondering
“Can I do this?”
ask yourself
“How can I do this?”
58. (1) Commit to overcome self-chosen challenges
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ph0t0s/64157471/
59. (1) Commit to overcome self-chosen challenges
When you engage in a game, you sign
yourself up to tackle unnecessary
obstacles in the spirit of learning and
having fun.
See if you can weave this approach into
your work life.
61. (2) Set-up clear goals, steps, feedback & rewards
As humans we are optimized to do work
and we are happier working hard than
relaxing. More satisfying work comes from
clear missions, a clear path to get to the
desired outcomes, reliable feedback of
our progress, and rewards that we value.
62. Feedback
The faster and more clear the feedback,
the more motivated you are to move
forward.
63. Rewards
May not be what you are thinking (ie,
money). Sometimes the reward of doing
something well, learning something new,
helping others, etc. is more than enough.
64. (3) Keep upping the ante
http://www.flickr.com/photos/artnoose/5908811743/
65. Feel the rush
By undertaking a difficult challenge,
accomplishing something difficult,
participating in moving experiences, and
stimulating our curiosity, we stimulate a
rush of neurochemicals which make us feel
confident, energetic, highly motivated,
excited, proud, satisfied, powerful and in
control.
69. Maintain urgent optimism
With urgent optimism comes extreme selfmotivation: the desire to act immediately
to tackle an obstacle combined with the
belief that we have a reasonable hope of
success.
70. (4) Make it Epic
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shirinwiniger/3680885289/
71. (4) Make it Epic
Things epic are those of heroic
proportions which far surpass the ordinary,
especially in size, scale, and intensity.
72. Game Changer: An Epic mind game
Envision yourself embarking upon a
challenge that is so awe-inspiring to you
that it makes clear your place in the larger
scheme of things, stimulates a desire to
serve, and gives you a sense of reverence
or participating in an expansive process
that unites you with others as part of a
bigger whole.
73. An “Epic Win”
An outcome that is so extraordinarily
positive that is you didn’t know it was
possible until you achieved it.
74. What’s your gaming personality?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/debord/4932655275/
75. Are you a…?
• Achiever
• Explorer
• Socializer
• Killer
77. Achiever
Prefer to gain "points," levels, equipment
and other concrete measurements of
succeeding in a game.
Will go to great lengths to achieve
rewards that confer them little or no
gameplay benefit simply for the prestige
of having it.
80. Socializer
Choose to play games for the social
aspect, rather than the actual game itself.
Gain the most enjoyment from a game by
interacting with other players
117. And instead of being like this at work
http://www.flickr.com/photos/untitled13/83391194/
118. You can be like this!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/picfix/6502442657/
119. No more being a passive spectator
http://www.flickr.com/photos/modenaroid/4103509077/
120. Don’t be chicken, get your game on!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wyldkyss/3872579840/
121. It’s your move – what’s it going to be?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/colemama/3941644833/
122. My books
The CSS Detective
Guide
Smashing Books #3
& #3 1/3
InterAct With
Web Standards:
CSSDetectiveGuide.com
SmashingBook.com
InterActWithWebStandards.com
My chapter:
“Storytelling in
Webdesign”
My chapter:
“Learning with the Web”
123. My articles for further reading
netmagazine.com/features/
four-secrets-enhancingcreative-productivity
alistapart.com/articles/
reigniting-your-creative-spark/
alistapart.com/articles/
banishing-your-inner-critic/
124. How to find me
DeniseJacobs.com
denise@denisejacobs.com
twitter.com/denisejacobs
facebook.com/denisejacobsdotcom
Photo used with permission: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aarronwalter/4629078087/